Saturday, May 31, 2008

They offered it to me and I am taking the weekend to think about it.If I wasn't pregnant I wouldn't give it another thought.I'm a little worried about a new job, with a bit of a learning curve and being pregnant.and a 40 minute commute each way.But, its what I've been waiting for, right?Hmmmmm

1) Are you a garage saler?Yes, but its a spring/summer thing...not serious. I usually have one each spring but not this year. This year I am looking for baby stuff.

2) If so, are you an immediate buyer or a risk taker who comes back later when prices are lower?I only buy what I'm looking for and usually pay the asking price,unless I don't have the right change.

3) Seriously, if you're not a garage saler, you are probably not going to want to play this one.(That wasn't really #3.)3) This is the real #3: What's the best treasure you've found at a yard or garage sale?A free toddler bedthat my son slept in for about a yearand currently is the sleeping space for sleepover guests and stuffed animal friends.

4)If you've done one yourself, at church or at home, was it worth the effort?Yes. Always worthwhile to at the very least take inventory of the things you don't need and get rid of them. If the money is enough to take the family out for pizza afterwards...its time well spent.

5) Can you bring yourself to haggle?Ooh, only if I don't have the right change. Otherwise, asking price.Folks who charge weird prices shouldn't have garage sales.

BONUS: For the true aficionado: Please discuss the impact of Ebay, Craig's List, Freecycle, etc... on the church or home yard/garage sale.I love Craigslist because its specific and convenient...for the most part. Its better if you live in or near a city...not out here in the boonies. Ebay is OK but I'm not really a huge fan. Would love to get up the courage to sell some things on there myself. A friend got a backyard play structure thing on Freecycle. Just disassemble and move it yourself! So in general I'm in favor.

The big impact on Garage Sales hads been Antique Roadshowand those types of shows. Now everyone charges more for their junk.You often can do better at Church rummage sales because they are often priced by someone impartial. But all in all, I'm looking for what I'm looking for and will buy it for a reasonable price.

Latest Yard Sale Purchase: $3 fishing rod (hook, weights and the like not included). Flash is enjoying pretending with it.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Got a call for an interview! So excited!Cross you fingers, or pray, for me around 2 on Thursday.Its a school librarian job, about 40 minutes away and its not quite full time.We'll see. This is the first promising job interview I've had in months.and I'm beyond excited.

Had a wonderful memorial day weekend, visiting with some friends from seminary.What a nice nice weekend. And then today an email from another friend coming out this coming weekend! Abundance.

Also its the last week of school and strangely I had a little sub job today,probably the last of this school year.Flash is enjoying his last week of daycare.Hubby is trying to do bulletins and Newsletters today.

The dogs have chased a critter into the dryer vent.Is it cruel to turn on the dryer to chase it out again, if the dogs are penned up?Seems like my only option. But I think I'll wait for it to find its way out.Lots of phone calls to make today and I'm goofing off at the computer.

Friday, May 23, 2008

1. Getting ready for summer, do you use the gradual tanning moisturizersor are you happy to show your winter skin to the world?My winter white, with freckles, quickly changes to pink with more freckles in the sun.I've never used a tanner, or tanning moisturizers, but I might consider it, I guess,for a special occasion.

2.Beach, mountains or chilling by the pool, what/ where is your favorite getaway?Beach, I think. Although I'm not opposed to any vacation that involves some water.

3.Are you a summer lover or does the long break become wearing?I am having a long break now anyhow, and its a bit wearing.I don't quite know what to do with myself. On the one hand I need a job, on the other hand,I'm pregnant and its not usually an interview-winner.Also there doesn't seem to be any childcare for babies in my town,so even if I come up with something, I'll have to leave to have the babyand then, who cares for it?So it looks like subbing or some sort of part-time work will be it for this year.I am kinda disappointed about it.NOT the baby, I am thrilled about the baby,I'm disappointed with my ongoing unemployment. Oh I am SO off-topic.

4.Active holidays; hiking swimming sailing, or lazy days?Lazy days with a nice walk, or swim or something.I need to do "something" everyday otherwise I feel like I've missed out.

5.Now to the important subject of food, if you are abroad do you try the local cuisine,or do you prefer to play it safe?Never been anywhere that different but, I eat seafood at the beach!Does that count?

Bonus! We have patio furniture!Vacation begins on the back porch as soon as the weather improves!

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Today at the school Town Meeting ( every Thurs). The principal asked a student to come down and help him lead the Pledge of Alligence. No big deal. He asked if there was anyone in the world that could come and help her lead it, who would that be? She shrugged and hedged...but the rest of us could see a man in uniform coming up behind her. Her older brother. And she jumped up and hugged him with arms and legs! The other kids were screaming, the adults were all a little teary. He's home for a few weeks and helped lead the pledge. It was beautiful and fantastic and I thought I'd share.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

There are times when I can see the pastor in my Hubby.I've known him for a long time and I still find it hard to see him as my pastor.Today though during his sermon I lost the husband-ness a bit.

Today's liturgy is The Great Commission "Go make disciples of all nations and remember that I am with you until the end of the age". Jesus once again giving direction to those bewildered disciples. Graduation is coming up this week and our congregation has a few graduates. Hubby talked about the difficulty of transitions - from high schooler to graduate, from worker to retired, from follower to leaders of the church! And while Jesus isn't right there giving us the Great Commision as we make the transitions of our lives, He kind of is, and he and the church are with them, til the end of the age.

And for a while my pastor was speaking...not specifically my husband.That is rare folks, rare.

Saturday, May 17, 2008

The kind of haircut where you cry all the way home.Where you look at the hairdresser and say "Did you just cut bangs?!!"All the older ladies at church complement me on itand no one else says a word.

Not even short and easy to take care of.Takes a lot more time to make it even presentable...because now that its so short and the weather getting humid, it is curling uncontrollably.So pregnant, sunburned and awful hair

One of the revgals wrote yesterday about a trip she and her sisters are taking overseas with their parents. Many other RevGals are headed for the Festival of Homiletics in the coming week. In honor of these upcoming trips, herewith your Grand Tour Friday Five.

Name five places that fall into the following categories:

1) Favorite Destination -- someplace you've visited once or often and would gladly go againBald Head Island NC. I've been there twice with friends and would absolutely go again.Its the place I think of for dream vacation.Also, Cape Cod, South Carolina coast & Chicago.

2) Unfavorite Destination -- someplace you wish you had never been (and why)Hmmm this is tougher. I got really ill at Great Adventure onceand have avoided it since, but that doesn't cross over to all amusement parks.I was really lost in a bad area of Baltimore once.

3) Fantasy Destination -- someplace to visit if cost and/or time did not matterItaly or again Bald Head Island. Very different I know.I've only been out of the country once, to Toronto ;).If I ever get to go somewhere overseas Italy is high on my list.Also Japan because I have an exchange sister there and she's been here a lot.We've never visited her.Bald Head would just be a great relaxing vacation, beach and such.The first time I went it rained almost the whole week. And we still had a ball.

4) Fictional Destination -- someplace from a book or movie or other art or media form you would love to visit, although it exists only in imaginationHuh. In science fiction the future is often bleak andI don't want to visit a murder mystery or thriller novel.Ditto movies I guess.I have a painting on my wall that might be nice to visit for a while.Its a lovely landscape with hills, trees and a river.Excellent place for a picnic. And the artist was kind enough to not paint any bugs.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Its interesting how our moods are. Now, mine are a little wacky right now.Today I substitute taught all over the elementary school. An hour here, an hour there. Helped out in the library for a while, bounced around the third grade (three classrooms) and one second grade class. Supervised seatwork, helped make Chinese food,watch a video about China, did some crowd control,a FANTASTIC day all in all.

But lots of the folks I met today were in a bad mood. I didn't set out to have a good mood this morning. I doubt Hubby would have said I woke up in a good mood, but there it is. Other folks were in a bad mood...mostly teachers. Students were in a mischievous mood...spring fever two weeks of school left even though its a chilly rainy 50 today.

I came home happy. Made some cookies and watched some funny TV show and when Hubby called I couldn't stop giggling.Something he said set me off and I was on the floor laughing with tears streaming down my face.

He decided to get Flash from daycare and I made supper. He just left for session meeting, which will be sober I think. But before he went it happened again. This time I was having trouble getting an idea across and my own choice of description struck me as funny and I was off again!

Hubby says I don't always make a lot of sense when I'm pregnant. I laugh at things and argue about weird things and find odd stuff fascinating he says.I think maybe I'm seeing that part today. Thank goodness it didn't happen at school!

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Yeah...its home...funny huh?Still getting things back together after a week awaybut we've had a busy week alreadyPreschool Parents day was also our day to see Flash in his element at preschool. He'll be fine there next year, I am sure.Today I subbed, with him, at his daycare. And that went well too!All with a head cold and this overwhelming fatigue.Which reminds me , why am I awake?Its 9:30!

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Thinking about all the gifts of the spirit and what Peter said of the "last days"......

Have you or anyone you know

1. ...ever experienced a prophesy (vision or dream) that came true?No but I've had deja vu. I once saw a man in a nursing home that I was sure that I had never seen before, except in a dream. Who knows?

2. ...dreamed of a stranger, then actually met them later?Oops, see above.

5. ...experienced knowledge of another language without ever having studied it?No. But I studied French in high school and went to a fancy glassware shop and there was a French couple that said "You don't throw this stuff" in French! And I understood. He was unnerved that I giggled.

Bonus Question: What would a modern day news coverage of the first Pentecost have sounded like?Well, it would have been in The Star or National Enquirer to begin with...

Hubby went to a Rural Ministry conference in Georgia this week and we tagged along. We stayed with my in-laws and had a great time...indulged in Grandma's presents, Mexican food and seeing our old haunts and friends. It was fantastic., and also the first time I had left Indiana since November.

Got back just in time for a Presbytery meeting and Flash's BFF came to have a sleepover (her folks are a clergy couple). And this morning was his first t-ball game! Very funny.

Its 6:30 now and he's been asleep (IN HIS NEW BIG BOY BED) for an hour...tomorrow will be an early morning I think. Mother's Day/Pentecost and Inducting the confirmation class. Should be a packed Sunday at church. In my limited experience, Mother's Day is a big attendance day at church, so we'll see.

I would like my Mother's Day presents to be 1. a long nap, and 2. no dog duties all day.Very do-able I think.

Friday, May 02, 2008

Prayer is a joy to some of us, and a chore to others, waiting likewise can be filled with anticipation or anxiety....

So how do you wait and pray?

1. How do you pray best, alone or with others?Hmmmm. I think my best prayers are with others, at fellowship or with Flash at night.Otherwise I am a slacker.

2. Do you enjoy the discipline of waiting, is it a time of anticipation or anxiety?I'm horrible at waiting! I hate keeping secrets! It goes against my nature. But I try to keep confidences.

3. Is there a time when you have waited upon God for a specific promise?Sure. I think everyone has, don't you? Even as children!

4. Do you prefer stillness or action?ACTION! Stillness and silence drive me crazy.

5. If ( and this is slightly tongue in cheek) you were promised one gift spiritual or otherwise what would you choose to receive?Ummm. The power to teleport so I could cross great distances faster, and visit family and friends. Oh and I should be able to take two people with me at a time. How's that for a gift, huh?